Automatic switch



R. LABBE.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLlcA'fio'N FlLED1uNE11.x92x.

1,41 3,740. Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

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Chimney,

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLAlcmoN FILED JUNE 1l. 192|.

1,413,740. l Patented Apr. '25, 1922.

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RoY LABBE, vor BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

Application led June 11, 1921. Serial No. 476,811.

I To all 'in/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROY LABnn, acitizen of the United States, residingat Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches, of which the following 1s a specification.r

This invention relates to electric switches, and its object is to provide a novel and 1mproved switch mechanism for controlling a plurality of circuits.

The invention also has for its object to provide a novel and improved means for operating the switch.

Other objects and advantages of the 1nvention will be pointed out in the detailed description hereinafter, and in order that the same may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is an elevation showing one side of the'switch mechanism; Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the other side; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a pawl-releasing mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a section on theV line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10

denotes a housing which encloses andfsup,

ports the various elements of the switch mechanism,` said housing being made `of porcelain or other suitable non-conducting material.

On one of the walls of the housing is mounted a series of stationary switch-contact members 11 which are engageable by a sion. The width ofthe blade 12 where it engages the contactsll is such that it may engage the entire series of contacts.

The following means are provided for operating the switch blade or plate 12:

In a housing 15 carried by a bracket 16 on the housing 10, is slidably mounted a pawlcarrier 17 t-'o the forward end of which is pvoted, as shown at 18, a pawl 19 adapted to engage lugs orabutments 20 on the plate 12 corresponding in number and grouping to that of the contacts 11.u The pawl 19 is a longitudinal recess 23 in said carrier and4 has in said recess a head 24. The rear end of the rod 22is loosely connected to a side lug 25 on a slide block 26 seating in the housing 15. A springj27 is coiled around the rod 22, between the lug 25 and the rear end of the carrier 17 on the rear and. of, the block se is a Stem 28 which projects from the through a hole in the rear end and is connected to one ofthe bell-crank lever fulcrnmed on 16, as shown at 30, and having its other arm 31 connected to a push-button 32.

The carrier 17 normally, or when retracted, seats in the clined position, and the block 26 is positioned housing 15 wall*l thereof, arms 29 of a between its rear portion and the opposite side `wall of the housing.V The carrier 1 7 also has a side shoulder 33 which abuts against the inside of the housing end wall from which the carrier protrudes. The opposite s ide of the carrier 17 is engaged bv a flat spring 34 which tendsto hold the same pressed against the block 26,V and with the shoulder 33 engaging the front wall of the housing` 15. Fig. 3 shows the parts in their normal position.

lVhen the push-button 32 pressed in. the

block 26. through the connections 28, 29

to slide `forwardly, and

and 31, is made the lug 25 is carried by the block and carries the rod 22, said rod also moves forwardly in the direction -of its length, so that the spring 27 is compressed between the advancing lug 25 and the rear end of the now stationary carrier 17. As the block 26 moves forwardly along the inclined side of the carrierv 17, it pushes or presses the same laterally to free its shoulder 33 from the front wall of the housing 15, and when the shoulder is thusfreed, the carrier is unlocked so the bracketV that it is now given a quick torward or working stroke by the spring 27 which had been compressed in the mean time. The forward stroke o't the carrier 17, through the engagement of the pawl 19 with one of the lugs 2O swing the plate 12 one step to engage one of? the contacts 11.

The pawl 19 and its carrier 17 are re tracted a'lter each working` stroke, and hence a means must be provided for locking the plate 12 after each advance to switch-closing position. This locking means is a pawl which engages lugs or abutments 36 on the plate 12. After the plate 12 has been swung` to switch-closing position as described, and locked by the pawl 35, the actuating means o't the pawl 19 are retracted by a spring 37 connected to the lever arm 29. The spring 37 is stretched when the button 32 is pushed in to operate the pawl 19, and when the button is released, said spring operates to restore the button to advance-d or protruding position, and also to draw the block 26 back, which movement of the block, through the lug,25, rod 22 and head 24, retracts the carrier 17, and whenthe shoulder 33 comes opposite the edge of the trent wall of the housing 15, the spring 34s rocks the carrier to engage the shoulder with said edge, whereupon the carrier is again locked in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 3. The carrier 17 has a projecting side finger 37 which works in a guide slot 38 in the side wall of the housing 15. The forward movement of the plate 12 is limited by a stop 39.

The pawl 35 which locks the plate 12 in circuit-closing position is pivoted to a support 40, as shown at 41. One side ot the pawl 35 is engaged by a flat spring ll2, and its other side is engageable by a longitudinally slidable trip rod 4:3. The support 40 is carried by the housing 15, and it has guides /lfor the trip rod 48.

The rear end ot the trip rod L13 is connected by a link t5 to one arm f1.6 of a bellcrank lever having its other arm t7 connected to a pnshbutton 18.

Assuming the pawl to be engaging one of the lugs $36 to lock the plate 12, it the button 48 is new pushed in, the rod 43, through the connections 45, 16 and 11-7, is advanced to swing the pawl clear of the lug, whereupon the plate :is released, and the spring 13 swings said plate back to circuitbreaking position.

ln order to restore the tripping means ot the pawl 35 to their normal position, after the plate 12 has returned to circuit-breaking position, there is pivoted to the housing 10, as shown at 19, a lever 50 carrying a link 51 which is connected to a lateral arm 52 on the rear end of the rod 43. The lever 50 has its lower tree end positioned so as to be intercepted by a lug 53 on the plate 12 at the end et its return stroke, and when said lug strikes the lever and swings the same, the link 51, through the arm 52, draws the rod 13 rearwardly to allow the pawl to again assume an operative position, and at the same time, the push-button 1S is advanced to its normal protruding; position.

The switch mechanism is very efficientand reliable, and it is well adapted 'tor controlling a group of lamps, in a chandelier, where it is desirable at times to use only a portion of the lamps. Any number ot lamps in the group, or the entire group 1n ay be turned on and o'fl' as desired. Each stroke oi'' the button 32 cuts in one lamp, and one stroke of the button t8 cuts out all the lamps or any number which may have been cut in.

"When the plate 12 has reached the limit ol its circuit-closing position, a lug 54C on the end thereof comes opposite the pawl 1) to prevent further operation thereof. A stop 55 is also provided 'for limiting the swing of the plate 12 to circuit-opening position.

I claim:

1. An electric switch comprising` a plurality ot stationary contacts, a movable switch blade engagcable with said conta cts. means on the blade and a pawl engageable with said means for actuating the blade, a slidable carrier for the pawl, means for locking the carrier in retracted position, means 'for releasing the carrier, a spring Ator imparting a working stroke to the carrier after its release, means for locking the blade after each actuation, and means for operating said locking means to release the blade. 2. An electric switch comprising a plurality ot stationary contacts, a movable switch blade engageable with said contacts,- means on the blade and a pawl engageable with said means for actuating the blade, a slidable carrier for the pawl, means Ytor locking the carrier in retracted position, means ttor releasing the carrier, a spring tor imparting a working stroke to the carl rier after its release, the aforesaid carrierreleasing means having means Vl'or placing the spring under compirssion, means tor locking the blade after each actuation, and means for operatingsaid. locking means to release the blade` An electric switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a, movable switch blade engageable with said contacts, means on the blade and a pawl engageable with said means for actuating the blade, a slidable carrier for the pawl, said. carrier being also tiltable, means Vfor locking the carrier in retracted position, a slidable member engageable with the carrier for tilting said carrier to release the same, actuating means .tor the slidable member` a spring for imparting a working stroke to the Carrier .after its release, means for locking the blade after each actuation, and means for operating said locking means to release the blade.

4. An electric switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a movable switch blade engageable with said contacts, means on the blade and a pavvl engageable with said means for actuating the blade, a slidable carrier for the pavvl, said carrier being also tiltable, means Jfor locking tlie carrier in retracted position, a slidable member engageable with the carrier for tilting said carrier to release the same, actuating means for the slidable member, a spring for imparting a Working stroke to the carrier after its release, tlie aforesaid slidable member also having means for placing the spring under compression, means for locliing the blade after each actuation, andv means for operating said locking means to release the blade.

5. An electric switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a movable switch blade engageable with said contacts, means on the blade and a paWl engageable witlisaid means for actuating thevblade, a slidable carrier for the paWl, said carrier 4being also tiltable, means for locking the the carrier and carrier in retracted position, a slidable member engageable with the carrier for tilting said carrier to vrelease the same, actuating ymeans for the slidable member, an abutment on the slidable member, a rod carried by the abutment and having a connection with the carrier to slide relatively thereto in one direction and to retract the carrier when slid in the opposite direction a spring between the aioresaid abutment, means for locking the blade after each actuation, and means for operating said locking means to release the blade.

6. An electric switch comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a movable switch blade engageable With said contacts, means for imparting a step-by-step movement to the blade to engage the contacts in succession, a pawl for locking the blade after each step, means for tripping the pawl to release the blade, means for returning the blade to circuit-breaking position when rei leased, actuating means for the tripping means, and means operated by the blade on its stroke to circuit-breaking position for restoring the tripping means and its actuating means to inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature.

ROY LABBE. 

